Washington High Seniors participate in election

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. – The General Election is fast approaching, and for some seniors in Jefferson County Schools, this will be the first chance they have had to cast a ballot. That’s why Washington High School has partnered with the Jefferson County Clerk's Office, Inspire WV, and the Eastern Panhandle Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., to sponsor a bus to offer seniors who are registered to vote the opportunity to vote early.“Washington (High School) has a great relationship with the Clerk's Office,” according to Carla Hunter, a counselor at Washington High.
Nikki Painter, Chief Deputy Clerk Voter & Elections for Jefferson County, approached Hunter and asked her to consider bringing her students to participate in early voting.
“I think it’s very important kids start at 18 and realize how important voting is,” Painter said.
The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office regularly holds voter registration events at both Washington and Jefferson High Schools. Painter said the school system has been a tremendous partner.
“The teachers and administrators always get the students excited about that and bring them over to us.”
A total of 22 seniors rode the bus that was paid for by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Senior, Lucas Sakole, 18, voted for the first time.
“We’ve learned about this all throughout our Civics class this year,” he said. “We’ve learned that it’s our civic duty to come out and vote.”
Sakole said he has also done outreach with the group Inspire WV to try and get more students interested in voting. He said students were prepared about what to expect when they went to vote and what they would need to bring with them.